Case for keys and the like



W. R. BUXTON CASE FOR KEYS AND THE LIKE June 2,1925.

Filed Oct, 29,1921

Cir

the latter is turned in the lock.

Patented June 2., i925.

-W. irl3.1\TEl5t R. BUXTON, OF LONGEVIEADOVJ,

' INCORPORAT i3 1 A G'IFRIQRATION OF MASSACHUSETTS, AS$IGNOR 'IO BTJ'XTON,

SSAGHUSETTS.

' CASE FUR KEYS AND THE LIKE,

Application filed QGlJOl' t -l 39, 1921. serial No. 511,436.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, WARNER R. Buxron, a citizen of the United States, residingat Longmeadow, in the county of llainpden and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful improvements in Cases for Keys and the like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in cases for keys and the like and, more par ticularly, to such cases wherein the keys are supported in snap hooks and these hooks are pivotally supported from the case and arranged to swing out of the case along a substantially definite arc-like path. One example of the general type of key case,

with which this invention is concerned, is

shown in U. 55. Letters Patent, No. 1,261,- 692, granted to me on April 2, 1918.

The broad object of this invention is to provide in a key case of the type described means whereby the key-supporting snap hooks may not only swing in the desired arc-like path into and out of the case, but may also turn about an axis substantially at right angles to that about which they swing.

According to this feature of the invention, the hooks are vertically swivelled, as Well as pivoted, and can turn with the key when Ordinarily, the case is held in the palm of the hand with 1 two or three fingers while the key is held between the thumb and first finger and, in turning the key in the look, a side strain is applied to the snap hook which tends to open it or distort it.. Due to this condition, especially constructed hooks have been provided for key cases to prevent the keys from coming off the snap hooks when thus placed under strain. With the provision for the 'swlvelling movement, the hook will turn relatively to the case, under such conditions, and the undesirable side strains usually imposed are' avoided. Also the hooks may swivel while enclosed within the case to enable the keys to pack down into small compass.

More particularly, it is an object of this invention to provide a key case of the general type described which provides for the swivelling movement and is characterized by a relatively simple and comparatively inexpensive structural arrangement for this purpose.

,tion

Other features of the invention will appear in the following description and in the illustrative embodiment ofthe invenin the accon panying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a key case embodying the invention, the flaps of the case being shown in open position;

F ig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary crosssectional view taken on the line 22 of F 1; v

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view of the blank from which the supporting member for the key holding books is made;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of the last-named member; and

Fig. 5 is an elevational view of the key case with the flaps thereof closed.

Referring to these drawings, the case forming member may be variously constructed as desired, but preferably, as shown, it is substantially like that of my prior patent, such member being preferably formed from a strip of flexible material, such as leather and the like, and having a back 10 and two flaps 11 foldahle in overlapping relation over the back. These laps 11 ma 1 be held togetl'ier in overlapping relation by any suit-able means, such as the interengageable male and female fasteners shown at 12 and 13 respectively.

The back 10 is provided along its upper edge with a supporting member 14: for a series of snap hooks h, which member is suitably secured to the back by some suit able means, of which the eyelets 15 are one illustrative example. Struck up from member 14, which is preferably of thin sheet metal, are means for pivot-ally supporting the hooks l2 and such means are characterized by being disposed substantially at right angles to the body portion of member 14- and by having a series of eyes 15 for receiving the hooks it. Such means are also characterized by .arcuate rims 16 which surround a substantial portion of the eyes in substantially concentrical relation therewith for the purpose of permitting each hook to turn, swivel fashion, about the axis of its eye 15 as shown in Fig. 4. The means, above alluded to, may be variously formed as desired, as long as they afford the characteristics referred to, but, as illustrated, comprise a transversely disposed series of members 17, one for each eye, each being struck up from and at right angles to the plate, as shown.

The hooks 72) may be constructed in various ways, as desired, and this invent-ion is independent of the, style employed, although it is preferred to provide a hook which can be conveniently engagedi-n with the rim 16 by which it is supported for swinging movement about axes at right angles to that of the eye One example, of a hook which is especially suitable for this purpose, is shown in Fig. 2, wherein the shank of the hook h has formed at its upper end a small snap hook h, which can readily be sprung over the rim 16 in an obvious manner. The use of such a style of hook permits rapid and convenient assembly by eliminating bending operations on the hook during assembly which practice is sometimes resorted to, but is undesirable in that the hooks must be left relatively soft to permit bending. In the present case, the hooks may be bent up, hardened and drawn to proper temper prior to assembly on the members 16 for no bending of the hooks tov an extent sufficient to cause a permanent set in the metal is thereafter required.

It will be readily apparent that the hooks it may not only swing into and out of the key case along a generally definite path in the usual manner, but they may also turn throughout a considerable arc about an:-

other axis to obtain a substantial degree of swivellingmovement, by reason of the factthat their pivots (beingconstituted by the rims 16) are curved. While complete swivelling action may be obtained by other structural arrangements, the present an rangement is important on account of its simplicity and its low cost of manufacture, the production of the lock-supporting members involving simple punching and stamping operations only.

The invention has been disclosed herein, in an embodiment at present preferred, for illustrative purposes, but the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description.

What I claim is- A key holder, comprising, a plate adapted to be secured to a key case and having a plurality of ears struck up forwardly therefrom and disposed at right angles thereto, each of said ears having a circular hole therethrough and having an outer wall of at least one hundred and eighty degrees angular extent which wall is curved concent-rically therewith, to form a curved pivotal support for a key holding snap hook, and a snap hook pivotally engaged with each of said supports.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature.

WARREN R. BUXTON. 

